Security cabinet agrees to allow more Gaza exports

We are ‘heeding the opinion of our friends in the international community,’ official says; B'Tselem welcomes the move as well.

Gazan farmer collects carnations 311.
(photo credit:AP)

The security cabinet on Wednesday decided to loosen even further the blockade of
the Gaza Strip, and allow more exports out of the region.

Increasing
exports from Gaza to improve the economic situation there has been a constant
demand of numerous countries around the world over the past few months, and the
sense in Jerusalem is that the decision will help improve Israel’s position in
the world.

Cabinet secretary Zvi Hauser issued a statement after the
security cabinet meeting saying the decision was intended to increase economic
activity in the Gaza Strip and “make things easier for the population in Gaza,
which is under a terrorist and oppressive Hamas regime.”

The exports,
both abroad and to the West Bank, will go through the Kerem Shalom crossing. The
exports abroad will be shipped via Ashdod Port.

Government officials said
that the decision entails risk, since in the past export containers have been
used to carry out terrorist attacks. As such the easing of the restrictions will
be gradual to ensure that security is not compromised. In the beginning textile
goods, agricultural products and furniture will be exported.

One official
said that before Israel stopped exports from Gaza after Hamas took control in
2007, Palestinian Authority officials checked out-bound Gaza trucks before they
were checked by Israeli inspectors.

With Hamas now on the other side of
the border, the official said, “How do we know that the trucks will not blow up
in the face of the inspectors? Are we supposed to trust the same people to check
the trucks who are holding Gilad Schalit, conducting a guerrilla war along the
border, and shooting missiles on our civilian population?”

The official said
that there were technological solutions that were being employed, but that
allowing the exports was not as easy as some around the world
maintained.

Israel has in recent months allowed the export from Gaza of
around 23 tons of strawberries and about 33,000 flowers. These products
were selected, according to government officials, because they are relatively
easy to check.

The statement issued following the cabinet meeting said
that along with attempts to improve the economic situation in Gaza, Israel
continues to call on the international community to continue its boycott of the
Hamas government and abide by the Quartet principles whereby there will be no
engagement with Hamas until it forswears terrorism, recognizes Israel and
accepts previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements.

The statement also
called on the international community to take all measures to prevent the arming
of Hamas and other terrorist organizations with missiles aimed at Israel’s
civilian population.

“A continuation of this armament is against
international law, harms the interest of the population that lives in Gaza and
will harm Israel’s ability to continue with steps to improve the economic
situation in the Gaza Strip,” the statement read.

One government official
said that in taking the decision, the government was operating on the principle
that Gaza civilians were not Israel’s enemies, and was also “heeding the opinion
of our friends in the international community.”

Likewise, he said Israel
expected the international community to take seriously the arms buildup in Gaza,
and not only make declarative statements against it, but also be more active in
stopping it.

Middle East Quartet representative Tony Blair, meanwhile,
welcomed the decision, calling it “another important step, which follows its
[Israel’s] decision from June of this year to change Israel’s policy towards
imports to Gaza.”

Blair said allowing exports was key for the
“revitalization of Gaza’s economy and job creation and can be done in accordance
with Israel’s security needs. It will help strengthen the legitimate private
sector and alleviate some of the hardship faced by local
businessmen. There is, of course, still much more to do for the people of
Gaza, not least in the area of construction, water and power and we will
continue to move forward on these issues.”

B’Tselem – The Israeli
Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories also welcomed
the move, expressing hope “that the change of policy stems from an understanding
that Israel must stop using its control over the crossings with Gaza for
collective punishment of its population.”

However, B’Tselem said in a
statement that the “true test” of the government’s decision is in its
implementation.

“In the past, even while allowing import and export,
Israel placed arbitrary restrictions that impaired trade. Israel must take all
necessary steps, subject to security restrictions, to allow the free flow of
goods,” the statement read.